Longitudinal Distribution of the Fish Fauna in the River Ganga from Gangotri to Kanpur

Home , Alaknanda River, Bhaironghati, Gangotri

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I Journal of Applied and Natural Science 5 (1): 63-68 (2013) T

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N P A JANS ANSF 2008 Longitudinal distribution of the fish fauna in the river Ganga from Gangotri to Kanpur

Prakash Nautiyal*, Asheesh Shivam Mishra, K.R. Singh1 and Upendra Singh Aquatic Biodiversity Unit, Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, HNB Garhwal University Srinagar- 246174 (Uttarakhand), INDIA 1K.L. Degree College, Allahabad- 211002( UP), INDIA *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Received:October 1, 2012; Revised received: January 31, 2013; Accepted:February 25, 2013

Abstract: Fish fauna of the river Ganga from Gangotri to Kanpur consisted of 140 fish species from 9 orders and 25 families; 63 fish species from 6 orders and 12 families in the mountain section (MS), while 122 species from 9 orders and 25 families in the Plains section (PS) of Upper Ganga. Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were most species rich order and family in both sections. Forty six fish species primarily Cypriniformes and Siluriformes are common to both sections, only 17 in MS and 76 in PS. Orders Tetradontiformes, Osteoglossiformes and Clupeiformes were present in PS only. The taxonomic richness in the MS was low compared to PS. Probably motility and physiological requirements in respect of tolerance for temperature restrict faunal elements. Keywords: Cyprinidae, Fish distribution, Gangetic plains, Himalaya, River continuum

INTRODUCTION available on the longitudinal distribution of fish fauna in Distributional patterns of organisms are controlled by the Ganga river especially from mountain (Gangotri to dispersal mechanism, historical factors (connecting Haridwar) to upper plain section (Haridwar to Kanpur). pathways, dispersal barriers) and tolerance to In view of the paucity of such information, a study was environmental factors (Carter et al., 1980). According to made to investigate the longitudinal distribution of fish Gregory et al. (1991) streams are intimately related to fauna in the Ganga river from Gangotri to Kanpur. their drainage basin, their linear form maximizing the MATERIALS AND METHODS interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Study area: Mountain section (MS) i.e. from Gangotri to Climate, geological vegetation, land use and topographic Haridwar and plains section-Upper Ganga (PS-UG) from conditions in a basin determine the hydrology and Haridwar to Kanpur. The primary and secondary data chemistry of receiving waters with direct effects on the were used for preparing a list of fish species in the MS stream organism (Wiley et al., 1997). The river Ganga is and PS. Primary data were collected with the help of local a holy river of India and has been declared as a National fishermen by using cast nets and other indigenous traps River by the Government of India. It originates at during 2010-2011 from the river Bhagirathi (at Dharasu Gaumukh (Himalaya) and flows down to Gangasagar and Chham) and Alakananda (at Karanprayag, (plains) traversing a distance of 2525 km. Various Rudrapryag and Srinagar) during pre and post monsoon anthropogenic activities viz. urbanisation, hydropower, season. The samples could not be collected in the megadevelopmental projects, agriculture and pollution monsoon season as high flows prevent the use of cast directly or indirectly change the physical and chemical nets. The collected samples were preserved in 10% characteristics of the river along its length. Thus the formalin and brought to the laboratory for further characteristics that govern the distributional patterns of analysis. The fish fauna was identified using Day (1958), the aquatic fauna (Allan, 1995) are altered. Thus an effort Talwar and Jhingran (1991), Jayaram (2002). The was made to determine the distributional patterns of the secondary sources are Singh et al. (1987); Nautiyal et al. fish fauna in the mountain and plain sections (Upper (2007); Nautiyal et al. (2010); www. thdc.gov.in/ Ganga) of the Ganga river, as it would help to know the writereaddata/english/pdf. impact of anthropogenic activities on fish communities. Fragmented information is available on the distributional RESULTS AND DISCUSSION patterns of the fish fauna in the Ganga river (Singh et al., Fish fauna of the river Ganga from Gangotri to Kanpur 1987; Rao, 2001; O’Keeffe et al., 2012). No information is consisted of 140 fish species from 9 orders and 25

Table 1. Distribution of fish fauna in the mountain and upper plain of the Ganga river from Gangotri to Kanpur. Acronyms: MS- Mountain Section, PS- Plain Section. Fish nomenclature is based on Jayaram (2000) and Mahanta et al. (2001). Taxa MS PS Taxa MS PS Order- Cypriniformes 49. Garra prashadi (Hora) + + Family- Cyprinidae 50. Amblypharyngodon melettina 1. Salmostoma bacaila (Hamilton) + + (Valenciennes) - + 2. Schizothoraichthys progastus (McClleland) + + 51. Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker) - + 3. Schizothorax plagiostomus (Heckel) + + 52. Amblyphryngodon mola (Hamilton) + 4. Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray) + + 53. Esomus danricus (Hamilton) + + 5. Schizothorax sinuatus (Heckel) + + 54. Osteobrama cotio (Hamilton) + 6. Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel) + 55. Catla catla (Hamilton) + 7. Schizothorax curviforns (Heckel) + 56. Chagunius chagunio (Hamilton) + 8. Schizothorax niger (Heckel) + 57. Chela laubuca (Hamilton) + 9. Schizothorax intermedius (McClleland) + 58. Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton) + + 10. Schizothorax micropogon (Heckel) + 11. Barilius barila (Hamilton) + + 59. Rasbora elanga (Hamilton) + 12. Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton) + + 60. Raiamas bola (Hamilton) + + 13. Barilius bola (Hamilton) + + 61. Hypothalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) + 14. Barilius dimorphicus Family- Balitoridae (Tilak & Husain) + 62. Nemacheilus botia (Hamilton) + + 15. Barilius barna (Hamilton) + 63. Nemacheilus corica (Hamilton) + 16. Barilius vagra (Hamilton) + + 64. Nemacheilus montanus (McClleland) + + 17. Barilius modestus (Day) + 65. Nemacheilus rupecola (McClleland) + + 18. Barilius shacra (Hamilton) + 66. Nemochilus beavani (Gunther) + + 19. Labeo bata (Hamilton) + 67. Nemochilus multifasciatus (Day) + + 20. Labeo boga (Bloch) + 68. Nemochilus Savona (Hamilton) + + 21. Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) + + 69. Nemochilus scaturigina (McClleland) + 22. Labeo dero (Hamilton) + + 70. Nemochilus zonatus (McClleland) + + 23. Labeo dyocheilus (Day) + + Family-Cobitidae 24. Labeo angra (Hamilton) + 71. Botia almorhae (Gray) + 25. Labeo gonius (Hamilton) + + 72. Botia dario (Hamilton) + + 26. Labeo pangusia (Hamilton) + 73. Botia lohachata (Chaudhari) + 27. Labeo rohita (Hamilton) + 74. Lepidocephalus guntea (Hamilton) + 28. Laubuca atper (Hamilton) + Order- Siluriformes 29. Puntius chagunio (Hamilton) + Family- Bagridae 30. Puntius chola (Hamilton) + 75. Mystus aor (Hamilton) + 31. Puntius conchonius (Hamilton) + 76. Mystus bleekeri (Day) + 32. Puntius sarana (Hamilton) + + 77. Mystus cavasius (Hamilton) + 33. Puntius sophore (Hamilton) + + 78. Mystus menoda (Hamilton) + 34. Puntius spp. (Hamilton) + 79. Mystus seenghala (Sykes) + 35. Puntius ticto (Hamilton) + + 80. Mystus tengara (Hamilton) + + 36. Tor putitora (Hamilton) + + 81. Mystus vittatus (Bloch) + 37. Tor tor (Hamilton) + + 82. Rita rita (Hamilton) + + 38. Tor chilinoides (McClleland) + Family-Amblycipitidae 39. Aspidoparia jaya (Hamilton) + 40. Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton) + 83. Amblyceps mangois (Hamilton) + 41. Crossocheilus latius (Hamilton) + + Family-Chacidae 42. Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) + 84. Chaca chaca (Hamilton) + 43. Danio devario (Hamilton) + + Family-Siluridae 44. Danio rerio (Hamilton) + + 85. Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch) + 45. Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) - + 86. Ompok boopis (Hamilton) + 46. Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton) + 87. Ompok pabda (Hamilton) + 47. Garra gotyla gotyla (Gray) + + 88. Ompok pavole (Hamilton) + 48. Garra lamta (Hamilton) + 89. Wallago attu (Bloch) +

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Table 1. Contd. Table 1. Contd. Taxa MS PS Taxa MS PS Family-Heteropneustidae 116. Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton) + 90. Heteropneustes fossilis (Hamilton) + 117. Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) + + Family-Pangasiidae Order-Perciformes 91. Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton) + Family-Channidae Family- Schilbeidae 118. Channa gachua (Hamilton) + + 92. Ailia coila (Hamilton) + 119. Channa marulius (Hamilton) + 93. Clupisoma garua (Hamilton) + + 120. Channa punctatus (Bloch) + 94. Clupisoma montana (Hora) + 121. Channa stewartii (Playfair) + 95. Pseudotropius atherinoides (Bloch) + 122. Channa striata (Bloch) + 96. Eutropiichthys murius (Hamilton) + 123. Chanda nama (Hamilton) + 97. Eutropiichthys vacha (Hamilton) + 124. Chanda ranga (Hamilton) + 98. Silonia silondia (Hamilton) + 125. Ophiocephalus punctatus (Bloch) + Family-Sisoridae Family-Nandidae 99. Sisor rabdophorus (Hamilton) + 126. Nandus nandus (Hamilton) + 100. Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton) + + 127. Badis badis (Hamilton) + 101. Gagata cenia (Hamilton) + Family-Belontiidae 102. Nangra nangra (Hamilton) + 128. Colisa fasciatus (Schneider) + + 103. Glyptothorax dakpathari 129. Colisa lalia (Hamilton) + (Tilak & Husain) + Family- Sciaenidae 104. Glyptothorax indicus (Talwar) + 130. Sciaena coitor (Hamilton) now valid 105. Glyptothorax pectinopterus as Johnius coitor (Hamilton) + (McClleland) + + Family-Gobiidae 106. Glyptothorax madraspatanum (Hamilton) + 131. Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton) + 107. Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton) + Family-Anabaniitidae 108. Glyptothorax trilineatus (Blyth) + 132. Anabas testudineus (Bloch) +

109. Glyptothorax lineatum (Hamilton) + Order-Tetraodontiformes Family- Tetraodontidae 110. Glyptothorax conirostris (Steindachner) + 133. Tetraodon cutcutia (Hamilton) + 111. Pseudecheneis sulcatus (McClleland) + Order-Osteoglossiformes Family- Clariidae Family-Notopteridae 112. Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) + + 134. Notopterus notopterus (Pallas) +

Order-Mugiliformes 135. Chitala chitala (Hamilton) + Family-Mugilidae Order-Clupeidformes 113. Rhinomugil corsula (Hamilton) + + Family-Clupeidae 114. Mugil corsula (Hamilton) + 136. Gudusia chapra (Hamilton) + Order-Beloniformes 137. Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton) + Family-Belonidae Family-Engraulidae 115. Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton) + + 138. Setipinna phasa (Hamilton) + Order-Cyprinodontiformes 139. Leiocassis rama (Hamilton) + Family-Mastacembelidae Total 63 122 families; 63 fish species from 6 orders and 12 families in fish species were reported in the Bhagirathi from Gangotri the mountain section, while 122 species from 9 orders to Devprayag and 42 species in the Alaknanda from Mana and 25 families in the Plains of Upper Ganga (Table 1). to Devprayag (Singh et al.,1987). Recently, Nautiyal et Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were the most species rich al., (2007) reported brown trout (Salmo trutta morph fario order and family in both MS and PS (Figs.1 and 2). Forty Linnaeus, 1758) in a left side tributary (Kherag Gad) of six fish species primarily Cypriniformes and Siluriformes the Bhagirathi river downstream of Bhaironghati. Twenty were common to both sections. However, 17 species were species were reported in the Alaknanda river and its present in MS and 76 in PS. Most of the fish species tributaries near up and down stream of the proposed common to MS and PS belonged to order Cypriniformes barrage and power house sites for Vishnugad Pipalkoti and Siluriformes (Table 1). Orders Tetradontiformes, Hydro-Electric Project (www. thdc.gov.in/writereaddata/ Osteoglossiformes and Clupeiformes were present only english/pdf). However, Khanna and Badola (1994) in PS. recorded 30 fish species around Rishikesh-Hardwar In the upper mountain section i.e. up to Devprayag, 39 section in the foothill section of mountain zone. In the 66 Prakash Nautiyal et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 5 (1): 63-68 (2013)

Fig. 1 . Pie chart indicating the number of species in each family in the mountain section. Acronyms: CY-Cyprinidae; BA- Balitoridae; SI- Sisoridae; BAG- Bagaridae; CH-Channidae; SC - Schilbeidae; CO- Cobitidae; MA- Mastacembelidae; MU- Mugilidae; BE- Belontidae; CL - Clariidae; BL- Belonidae. foothill section, Negi and Malik (2005) recorded 35 compared to plain section attributed probably to species at Rishikesh and Nautiyal et al. (2010) recorded motility. The physiological requirements in respect of 20 species between Kaudiyala and Rishikesh. tolerance for temperature restrict the faunal elements in However, in the PS, there is a transition zone from a different fashion from other biotic components. The Hardwar to Bijnor (77 km. apart). This zone is the junction river is extensively regulated in the MS compared to PS of two biogeographic regions, the west Himalaya and till Kanpur. This has modified the continuum of the Ganga the Upper Gangetic Plains. This zone has a larger share in the examined stretch. The continuum of the fauna of mountain element. It was notable that some depends on their dispersal ability so essential for essentially coldwater species i.e. snow trout, Garra and population dynamics, and since aquatic organisms can Glyptothorax extend their range but few were in the disperse only if there are no barrriers, their dispersal junction zone. The coldwater character of these species was hindered, inhibited and impaired. This may have was also obvious because they were not present after lead to decline in the similarity in the UGP, where no this junction zone, while the cool-water elements major river from different biogeographic zone is joining continue to be found in PS. The other elements included the Ganga. There is a serious lacuna about the natural migratory fish Tor and Labeo and a mixture of loaches range of each species (however small in size), as there and barils that can be called as cool water forms. The have been no dedicated research programs for the most typical fish in MS were Cyprinidae; snow trouts Ganga with economic implications for the country, (Schizothorax sp, Schizothoraichthys sp. Tor especially irrigation and the variety of livelihood it chelynoides,) Balitoridae (Schistura sp.) and Sisoridae provides to poverty ridden areas of north India. For (Pseudecheneis sp., Glyptothorax sp.). In PS besides instance it is well known that the snow trouts S. Schistura and Glyptothorax sp., a wide variety of other richardsonii and S. plagiostomus reside from little below genera of these families were exclusive. Presence of Badrinath to Hardwar and Tor putitora reside in the diverse silurid families (Order Siluriformes) was the foothills (even Bijnor) but migrate even beyond Srinagar unique feature of this section. Thus, a general increase (Alaknanda) and Tehri (not now because of Tehri Dam). in fish richness was evident from MS to PS. Sharma and If these species are not found in impounded areas then Rajput (1986) recorded 26 fish species around the Bijnor it is obvious that the continuum does not exist, but District. Rao (2001) reported 82 fish species between then the fish needs the food web and each component Brijghat to Narora (RIS, 2004). Shukla and Vandana (1995) has an ecological function in the ecosystem. Hence there recorded 25 fish species around Kanpur. is emphasis on the knowledge of various components The taxonomic richness in the mountain was low of biodiversity and their distribution to know the health Prakash Nautiyal et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 5 (1): 63-68 (2013) 67

Fig.2. Pie chart indicating the number of species in each family in the upper plain section. Acronyms: AM-Amblyciptidae; SL- Siluridae; NA-Nandidae; NO-Notopteridae; CU-Clupeidae; EN-Engraulidae; CA-Chacidae; HE-Heteropneustidae; PA-Pangasiidae; HA-Haemulidae; GO-Gobidae; AN-Anabaniitidae; TE- Tetraodontidae. For other acronymns see Legends for Fig. 1 of the ecosystem. Changes in distribution indicate the grounds. In: P. Nautiyal (Ed.) Mahseer: The Game fish perturbances in the continuum. Jagdamba Prakashnan, Dehradun. Nautiyal P., Shivam, A., Verma J. and Semwal, V.P. (2007). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Bhagirathi river- An endangered ecosystem. In: B. WWF, India is acknowledged herewith for providing Venkatramani, V.D. Puranik, S.K. Apte, H.N. Gour, S.K. financial support to E-flow study for upper Ganga basin. Sharma, L.L. Sharma, Y.S. Durve, H.C.L. Gupta, P.C. The second author (ASM) acknowledge DCFR Bhimtal, Verma, B.K. Sharma, (Eds.), Proceedings of DAE-BRNS National Symposium on Limnology, Paliwal Printers, Uttrakhand for providing Research Associateship in the Udaipur, India. pp 164-166 ICAR, New Delhi funded research project and Prof. N. Nautiyal, P., Shivam, A., Verma, J. and Dwivedi, R.K. (2010). Singh, Head, Department of Zoology & Biotechnology, Quarterly progress report (September 09) for the Living HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar for library Ganga Programme with respect to environmental flow facilities. submitted to WWF, New Delhi, India. REFERENCES Negi, K.S. and Malik, D.S. (2005). Fish fauna of Ganga river at Rishikesh. Himalayan Journal of Environmental Allan, J.D. (1995). Stream Ecology. Structure and Function Zoology, 19(2): 145-148. of Running Waters. Chapman and Hall, New York. O’Keeffe, J., Kaushal, N., Bharti, L. and Smathkin, V. (2012). Carter, J.C.H., Dadswell, M.J., Roff, J.C. and Sprules, W.G. Assessment of Environmental Flows for the Upper Ganga (1980). Distribution of zoogeography of planktonic Basin. WWF – India. crustaceans and dipterans in glaciated eastern North Rao, R.J. (2001). Studies on biological restoration of Ganga America. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 58:1355-1387. river in Uttar Pradesh: an indicator species approach. Day, F. (1958). The fishes of India: being a natural history of Hydrobiologia, 458: 159–168. the fishes known to inhibit the seas and freshwater of Sharma, M.K. and Rajput, D.B. (1986). Ichthyofauna of India, Burma and Ceylon. William Dawson, London. Bijnor District (Uttar Pradesh). Journal Bombay Natural Gregory, S.V., Swanson, F.J., Mckee, W.A. and Cummins, History Society, 83 (3):562-569. K.W. (1991). An ecosystem prespective of riparian zones. Shukla, A.C. And Vandana, A. (1995). Ganga: A water marvel. Bioscience, 41: 540-551. Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi. RIS (2004). Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. World Singh, H.R., Badola, S.P. and Dobriyal, A.K. (1987). Wide Fund (WWF), India, pp. 1-14. Geographical distributional list of ichthyofauna of the Jayaram, K.C. (2002). The freshwater fishes of the Indian Garhwal Himalaya with some new records. Journal of region. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi. Bombay Natural History Society, 84: 126-132. Khanna, D.R. and Badola S.P. (1994). Habitat and breeding Talwar, P.K. and Jhingran, A.G. (1991). Inland Fishes of India 68 Prakash Nautiyal et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 5 (1): 63-68 (2013)

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